3 John 1 · Verse 13

3 John 1:13

I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:
3 John 1:13, King James Version

3 John 1:13 in other translations

BSBI have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with pen and ink.
WEBI had many things to write to you, but I am unwilling to write to you with ink and pen;
ASVI had many things to write unto thee, but I am unwilling to write them to thee with ink and pen:
YLTMany things I had to write, but I do not wish through ink and pen to write to thee,
DARBYI had many things to write to thee, but I will not with ink and pen write to thee;
BBEI had much to say to you, but it is not my purpose to put it all down with ink and pen:
WebsterI had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write to thee:

What does 3 John 1:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. I will not--rather as Greek, "I wish not ... to write" more.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 13. I had many things to write, etc. This epistle closes, as the second does, with a statement that he had many things to say, but that he preferred waiting till he should see him rather than put them on paper. Perhaps there were some things which he wished to say which he would not like to have exposed to the possibility of being seen by the public eye.

But I will not with ink and pen, etc. 2Jn 1:12.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 I had many things to write - That is, I have many things that I might write; but having the hope of seeing thee shortly, I will not commit them to paper. Ink and pen are here mentioned; paper and ink in the preceding epistle.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 3 John 1:13-14
Here is the character of Demetrius. A name in the gospel, or a good report in the churches, is better than worldly honour. Few are well spoken of by all; and sometimes it is ill to be so. Happy those whose spirit and conduct commend them before God and men. We must be ready to bear our testimony to them; and it is well when those who commend, can appeal to the consciences of such as know most of those who are commended. A personal conversation together often spares time and trouble, and mistakes which rise from letters; and good Christians may well be glad to see one another. The blessing is, Peace be to you; all happiness attend you. Those may well salute and greet one another on earth, who hope to live together in heaven. By associating with and copying the example of such Christians, we shall have peace within, and live at peace with the brethren; our communications with the Lord's people on earth will be pleasing, and we shall be numbered with them in glory everlasting.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

3 John 1:13 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΠολλὰPollaMany thingsG4183
εἶχονeichonI hadG2192
γράψαιgrapsaito writeG1125
ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235
οὐounotG3756
θέλωthelōI desireG2309
διὰdiawithG1223
μέλανοςmelanosinkG3188
καὶkaiandG2532
καλάμουkalamoupenG2563
σοιsoito youG4771
γράφειν·grapheinto write;G1125

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 3 John 1:13

  • 2 John 1:12

    Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Jo 1:12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 3 John 1:12

    Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.

  • 3 John 1:13

    I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:

  • 3 John 1:14

    But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.

Read all of 3 John 1

3 John 1:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Yo tenía muchas cosas que escribirte; empero no quiero escribirte por tinta y pluma:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		J’avais beaucoup de choses à t’écrire, mais je ne veux pas t’écrire avec l’encre et la plume,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich hätte dir vieles zu schreiben, aber ich will dir nicht mit Tinte und Feder schreiben,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Multa habui tibi scribere: sed nolui per atramentum et calamum scribere tibi.